Waitrose is First UK Retailer to Responsibly Source Soya from Danube Region

02 Nov 2016 --- UK high-end grocer Waitrose has become a retail pioneer by responsibly sourcing non-GM soya beans from the Danube region of Europe instead of Latin America where GM soya is often linked to rainforest destruction.

Waitrose claims it is the first British retailer to introduce responsibly sourced non-GM soya for animal feed from Europe, thus reducing its reliance upon South American supply and marks the beginning of switching its business model to replace responsibly sourced soybeans from non-deforested land in Brazil.

According to managing director Rob Collins, this will lower the risk to the Waitrose supply chain as global demand for South American soya from the developing world continues to rise.

“This is fantastic, innovative and determined thinking and the result of three years’ work by our agriculture team. It fits perfectly into our strategy to improve our supply chain security by sourcing animal feed from raw materials grown at home or within the UK and Europe. This is an example of Waitrose working with our supplier groups to deliver a real benefit to our farmers, our global environment, our business and our customers,” said at a conference addressing the grocer’s dedicated farming group, Waitrose Farming Partnership, yesterday’s (Nov 1).

The first shipment of soya grown in the Danube region of Europe - stretching from the Black Sea to the Black Forest - has arrived in Britain. It will be used as a source of protein in pig feed used by Waitrose’s pork supplier Dalehead Foods.

Sourcing from the Danube region and not South America is a significant step as it not only reduces the food miles and environmental impact of the soya beans, it’s a move towards a completely sustainable animal feed supply chain.

Waitrose worked closely with the Danube Soya Producers Association, a group made up of European soya growers, millers and end users.

“We have recently taken our first delivery of European soya. A number of Waitrose supply chains have carried out trials on the use of European soya, and we are excited to be the first supply chain to use this source,” says Andrew Saunders, director of agriculture at Dalehead Foods.

Also praising the move is policy director of the Soil Association, Peter Melchett, who says: “We warmly welcome this very important development. GM soya from Latin America is linked to rainforest destruction, so sourcing from the Danube Region and using more UK-grown protein crops, is good for the climate, good for UK farmers, and good for consumers.”

Meanwhile Waitrose is also gaining ground in other areas such as its sourcing its livestock feed raw materials closer to the UK, particularly in the ruminant supply chain including beef, lamb and dairy. Suppliers are replacing imported soya by using clovers and other forage proteins instead. While with monogastric livestock like pigs, chickens and ducks, faba beans (also known as broad beans) are being trialed as a long term soya replacement.